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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Tex-Mex Jalapeno Cheese Burgers with Guacamole

Hamburgers offer a great opportunity for all kinds of marination and flavoring that's often not explored. Sure it is nice and simple to have a plain burger with the usual toppings of ketchup, mustard and mayo, but why not give the burgers some kick. This variation adds jalapeno peppers right into the meat combined with some diced onions and Worcestershire sauce. For an even spicier burger, double the Jalapenos or switch it up and use a Habanero Pepper (Scotch Bonnet) to really give this recipe some heat! To help cool down the pallet and add even more flavor, I added a quick guacamole topping to the sandwiches.

Step 1: Marinating the Beef -- In a large bowl add the ground beef, salt & pepper, diced jalepeno peppers, diced onions and Worcestershire sauce. Knead the ingredients together until well combined into a large meatball and set aside. Tip -- you can plan to do this step ahead of time to allow the meat to marinate for an hour or up to 5 hours to allow the flavors to seep into the beef.

Step 2: Toasting the Buns and Frying the Meat -- If you like your buns toasted, simply lay them over the grill or skillet face down while you heat the pan to medium high (about 1-2 minutes). Remove the buns and set aside. Split the large meat ball in half and form each half into 1/4 inch thick patties. On a small saucer add the vegetable oil. Before adding the patties to the grill or skillet, coat each side with vegetable oil by placing it onto the saucer and flipping it over. Transfer the patties onto the grill or skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side (longer if necessary for well done). Tip: Try to flip the burgers over only once to help maintain juiciness at the center of the meat. 3 minutes after the first flip, add the slice of cheddar cheese on top of the patties. When the cheese is melted, transfer the burgers hamburger buns.

Step 3: Guacamole -- Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit from the center. Use a teaspoon to scoop out the meat from the two halves and place it in a small bowl. Add the diced tomatoes, chopped green onions, sour cream and lime juice. With a fork mash up the ingredients until well combined. Add a spoonful of guacamole onto each burger and serve.